Multilayer Films
Multilayer films are commonly used in packaging applications and more recently to make reflective polarizers and other unique optical films. Most multilayer products contain two or more typically immiscible polymers and significant slip can occur during flow due to reduced entanglements at their interface. By modifying interface, interfacial adhesion and/or slip can be controlled.
Patrick Lee
Jie Song
Melt Blown Nanofibers
Melt blowing is an up and coming process for generating nonwoven products where simply put, polymer melt is heated above its melting/vitrification
temperature, extruded through a hole, and attenuated with a drag force
provided by heated air. The goal of this research is to combine our expertise in rheological and material properties to fundamentally understand
various aspects of nonwoven nanofiber production, such as the capability to
produce nonwoven nanofiber with improved mechanical properties and
microstructural alignment within nonwoven nanofiber when block copolymer is
utilized.
Dawud Hertanto Tan
Christopher J. Ellison
Nanocomposites
Dispersion of nano scale reinforcements greatly improves properties of polymers. Layered nanofillers like clay and graphite are superior to nanofibers for their planar isotropic mechanical properties and their ability to reduce gas permeability. In addition the dispersion of < 1% of graphite platelets can make a polymer electrically conductive. Our research involves obtaining exfoliation of graphite via chemical functionalization and pyrolysis treatments. After incorporation into matrix polymers, morphologies of dispersed phase are investigated using electron microscopy, X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy. It has been found that that viscoelastic, mechanical and gas barrier properties of polymers can be dramatically altered with the addition of graphite.
Harikrishnan G,
Hyunwoo Kim, Patrick Lee
Bio-Renewable Polyols and Urethane Nanocomposite Foams
Polyols for polyurethanes can be prepared from bio-renewable resources such
as soybean oil. The resulting product properties can be controlled via
proper tuning of the bio-polyol structure. During reactive foaming,
nucleation and gas permeability are controlled by nanoparticles.
Cocontinuous Polymer Blends
Conducting polymers generally have poor mechanical properties,
but useful conductive composites are possible if they can be made to percolate
at low volume fraction through a tough polymer matrix. Block copolymer additives
can control the size, scale, especially the stability of these non-equilibrium morphologies.
Carlos Lopez-Barron
Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Preparing anti-cancer drug-loaded particles in the form of stable, 100nm particles can increase dosage of insoluble actives, increase circulation time, and enhance retention. Block copolymers can control particle size, provide the stability needed, and incorporate targeting groups.
Yutaka Miura (Postdoc., Joint with Tom Hoye, Chemistry)
Haitao Qian
Zhengxi Zhu
Reactive functional polymers are precursors for block or graft copolymers. They can be used for reactive compatibilization, promoting adhesion and synthesis of novel polymer architectures. Fluorescence labeling can make the polymer chains visible and increase our ability to detect coupling. Coupling reactions can be used to add proteins to aid targeting of drug-encapsulated nano-particles.
Yutaka Miura (Postdoc., Joint with Tom Hoye, Chemistry)
Shingo Kobayashi, postdoc., (Joint with Marc Hillmyer, Chemistry)